How different would these fights be, if they didnt know who they were fighting. If it was only revealed the day of the fight. So the fighters had to train, but couldnt train specifics. This would be interesting IMO.
It would be different, but only to a degree. A lot of fighters basically use the same approach no matter who they're against. It does make things a lot more interesting though. That was a cool thing about the early UFC's. Even though very few of the guys could actually fight very well nobody knew who anybody was including the participants.
I think that it makes a big difference. I have stated numerous times that this is the reason why so many of the guys on TUF look like shit during the show. But once they get a real Fight scheduled, with a proper training camp, they almost always look much better.
The opponent is huge in MMA. And you don't have to look far to see evidence. Just last Saturday with Penn-Fitch we see a perfect example from another angle. Fitch knew exactly who he was fighting. He was fighting BJ Penn who everyone knew would use his great take down defense to keep the fight standing where he could utilize his supperior striking. Even Fitch, by his own admission, acknowledged that he didn't train wrestling defense at all during his camp. He worked exclusively on his take downs, ground control and stand up. Well, BJ had done just the opposite. Knowing that Fitch was a great offensive wrestler with ground control like a pallet of concrete blocks, BJ worked on his own offensive grappling and wrestling. He even brought Matt Hughes to Hilo to train. And he didn't bring in Hughes to help him stuff take downs. He brought him in to work on his OWN take downs. BJ didn't win the fight but going against conventional wisdom really had Fitch scratching his head without a plan B in the first 2 rounds. And if Penn wasn't a small guy with shorter legs, Fitch would have been choked out in my opinion.
It would be like the old UFC's. Where the fighters all gathered and names were pulled from a hat. That is how the matches were set up in the first few UFC's.
Not knowing your opponent means having to develop strategy at the spur of the moment. That can be very difficult to do...particularly if you get caught with a big shot and you're buzzed.
And this was the reason for my post. If you really are the best out there, you would be prepared no matter who your opponent is right?
Good question. You'd have to be the best combination of skills, strength, physical toughness, and mental toughness. Fighters aren't really asked that in this day and age unless you think of a tournament night like the K-1 Grand Prix Finals or the K-1 Super Max. In both, you know your opponent for the first round, but the second can be a surprise as can the third. Actually, you wouldn't know who you're fighting, beyond the first round, in tournaments...or at least up until shortly before. You can make best guesses, but you really need to prepare for more than one style.
